2 cars hit on Rte. 53 in Pembroke; 'habitual offender' arrested

Tuesday

Jul 22, 2014 at 9:32 PMJul 22, 2014 at 9:40 PM

Neal Simpson The Patriot Ledger @nsimpson_ledger

PEMBROKE – A Hanover man considered a “habitual traffic offender” was arrested again Monday after the car he was driving hit two others on Route 53, police said. Officers reported finding prescription pills and open bottles of wine in the car.

Andrew R. Smith, 30, was charged with driving under the influence of drugs, driving with an open container of alcohol in the car, negligent driving, driving with a license revoked for being a habitual traffic offender, possession of prescription pills and possession of prescription pills with intent to distribute. He was due to be arraigned Tuesday.

Lt. David Clauss said Smith was driving south on Route 53 at about 5 p.m. Monday when he sideswiped a car in another lane and then crashed into another car from behind. When officers arrived, they found that Smith had trouble speaking and was unsteady on his feet, Clauss said.

Clauss said officers search the car and found prescription drugs, open bottles of wine and spilled liquid that smelled like alcohol.

Pembroke police also arrested a Marshfield man after his car veered off Water Street and struck a pole at about 12:45 a.m. Monday, Clauss said. Justin D. Mascia, 25, was charged with second-offense drunken driving, failure to stay in marked lanes and negligent driving.